3 Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. 4 We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. 5 In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. 6 We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. 7 If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8 If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.
- Romans 12:3-8
Sometimes we think that our communities exist outside of ourselves, and I guess in a way they do. It isn’t as though that if we stop showing up, the community will cease to exist; that they would pack it all up and say, “Wait! Richard isn’t coming any more. Then what is the point of even going on!” But in another equally true way, communities are only made up of individuals. The culture of a community, the feel of a community, the resources of a community are all dependent upon and shaped by the individuals that show up for the community.
Paul’s instruction to the early church on community participation is still relevant today. He calls on people to both be humble (“don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought”) and to have a deep sense of their irreplaceable worth and value (“devote yourself to” offering your unique gift to the community).
Not being able to gather during the pandemic may have lulled many of us into believing that our church community isn’t as significant in our lives as we thought, or, just as untrue, that we aren’t all that significant to our church community. Perhaps our church community will be just fine without us. If this is you, I guess in one way you are right. Arborlawn isn’t closing down shop if you don’t show up. But in another way, you are wrong. If you don’t show up, Arborlawn will not be all it can be, because it is missing you and your gifts.
It is sad but true that not everyone who was with us before March 15, 2020 will come back. We will not be exactly the same as we used to be. But we will be something. New people will come. They will join with the individuals who are already here. And as a community, we will become something that has never existed before because of the presence and contributions of individuals. What we become might even be better than what we were. I really want you to be a part of it. I will be better off if you are. Our church community will be better off if you are. Fort Worth and our world will be better off if you are. And maybe, just maybe, you will be better off if you are.
Prayer: God of love and community, I offer myself and my gifts to You and Your people believe that You will do more with what I bring than I could possibly imagine. Amen.
Written By: Nick Scott